Miami Gardens, 31 March (H.S.): Jakub Mensik will always remember winning his first ATP Tour title at the Miami Open. The 19-year-old Czech shocked six-time champion Novak Djokovic with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory, making him the second-youngest winner in the tournament’s history.

Reflecting on the achievement during his on-court interview, Mensik expressed his disbelief and happiness, acknowledging it as one of the biggest days of his life. He managed to stay composed despite nearly six hours of rain delay, which allowed him to mentally prepare for the challenge of denying Djokovic a historic 100th tour-level title.

Born in September 2005, Mensik had long admired Djokovic, who was already in the ATP Top 100 at that time. When they faced each other again, Mensik rose to the occasion, delivering a remarkable serving performance that marked him as the first Czech to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Tomas Berdych in 2005.

Mensik admitted that beating Djokovic in the finals is an incredibly challenging feat, but he felt confident and focused, similar to his approach in earlier matches. Despite losing their previous encounter at the Shanghai quarter-finals, Mensik remained resolute, embracing the moment and executing his strategy effectively. His victory not only establishes him as a rising star in tennis but also pays tribute to his dedication and hard work in overcoming a legendary opponent.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar